CONNECTING PIECE

Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting piece (1) adapted to be mounted on and connect a hot-water radiator. A feed opening (M) and a return opening (R) are connected to an inlet and an outlet, respectively, of the radiator. The connecting piece (1) comprises on the one hand a first pair of mutually parallel pipe sockets for external connection and, on the other hand, a second pair of mutually parallel pipe sockets which extend perpendicularly to the first-mentioned pair such that the two pair of pipe sockets, called bottom pair (Bin, Bout) and side pair (Sin, Sout), permit bottom connection and side connection, respectively, of the radiator. The connecting piece (1) is useful both for parallel connection and for serial connection of radiators. The invention also relates to a radiator provided with such a connecting piece (1).

Description: CONNECTING PIECE The present invention relates to a connecting piece adapted to be mounted on and connect a hot-water radiator. More specifically, the invention relates to a connecting piece comprising a tubular housing having on the one hand a feed opening and a return opening which are adapted to be connected to an inlet and an outlet, respectively, of the radiator when mounting the connecting piece and, on the other hand, a pair of mutually parallel pipe sockets for external connection. Such connecting pieces are dis¬ closed in, for example, SE 366,387, SE 418,107 and SE 456,846. The invention also relates to a hot-water radia¬ tor provided with such a connecting piece. The connecting pieces according to the above-mentioned patent specifications may be used for connecting the radia¬ tor to two downwardly extending pipes (bottom connection) or two laterally extending pipes (side connection). To this end, the feed opening and return opening of the housing, which should be connected to the inlet and the outlet, respectively, of the radiator, are designed as two mutually perpendicular mounting pipe sockets which, for the purpose of explanation, may be designated A and B. The mounting pipe sockets A and B extend in the same plane as the pair of pipe sockets mentioned by way of introduction which, for the purpose of explanation, may be designated C and D, the mounting pipe socket A being directed perpendicular to the pipe sockets C and D, whereas the other mounting pipe socket is aligned with and directed away from the one of the pipe sockets C and D which is closest to the mounting pipe socket A. When such a prior art connecting piece should be used for bottom connection of the radiator, the pipe sockets C and D are directed downwards to be connected to flow and return pipes extending from below, while the mounting pipe socket A is directed aside and connected to a lower outlet opening of the radiator, and the mounting pipe socket B is directed upwards and connected, via a riser, to an upper inlet opening of the radiator. However, when the connecting piece should be used for side connection of the radiator, the pipe sockets C and D are instead directed aside, while the mounting pipe sockets A and B change places in comparison with the bottom connec¬ tion, i.e. the mounting pipe socket A is directed upwards and forms the feed opening and connects, via the riser, to the inlet opening of the radiator, whereas the mounting pipe socket B is directed aside and connects to the lower outlet opening of the radiator. Although these prior art connecting pieces are advan¬ tageous because they can be used for both bottom connection and side connection, they are disadvantageous since they must be dismounted from the radiator and mounted in a new position on the radiator if the bottom connection should be changed to side connection, and vice versa. This is a draw¬ back since the connecting piece and the riser are prefer¬ ably factory-mounted on the radiator, which means that connecting to piping is the only operation that remains so as to have the radiator installed. In practice, factory mounting of these prior art connecting pieces therefore requires that a decision be made in advance whether each radiator should be bottom-connected or side-connected, since rearranging the connecting piece during installation is unacceptably time-consuming. Thus, these prior art connecting pieces necessitate storing and administering of factory-mounted radiators in various designs. The object of the present invention is to eliminate this drawback. The invention solves the problem with the necessity of establishing, at the stage of factory-mounting the connecting piece on the radiator, in which manner the radiator should be connected when installed, i.e. bottom connection or side connection, as well as the problem with time-consuming rearranging of the connecting piece if, during installation, one wishes to change from bottom con¬ nection of the radiator to side connection, and vice versa. To achieve these objects, the invention provides a connecting piece of the type mentioned by way of intro¬ duction, which is characterised in that the housing com¬ prises, in addition to the first-mentioned pair of pipe sockets, a second pair of mutually parallel pipe sockets which are perpendicular to the first-mentioned pair such that said two pairs of pipe sockets, called bottom pair and side pair, allow bottom connection and side connection, respectively, of the radiator, and that the housing forms on the one hand a first connection between the feed opening, an inlet pipe socket of the bottom pair and an inlet pipe socket of the side pair and, on the other hand, a second connection between the return opening, an outlet pipe socket of the bottom pair and an outlet pipe socket of the side pair. Pipe sockets of the connecting piece which are not connected to the piping may be blocked by suitable means, such as threaded sealing caps, alternatively be used for connecting instruments for e.g. flow measurement and/or venting. The inventive connecting piece designed as described above may, independently of whether the radiator should be bottom-connected or side-connected, be used both for parallel connection (also called two-pipe connection) and for serial connection of radiators (also called one-pipe connection) . Depending on whether the radiator should be parallel- connected or serially connected, the connecting piece has specific features. If the connecting piece should be used for parallel connection of radiators, i.e. connection of each radiator directly to the flow and return pipe of the piping system, the first and the second connection should be separated from each other in the housing, thereby preventing liquid from flowing between these connections. According to a preferred embodiment of the connecting piece for parallel connection, said first and second con¬ nection should intersect at a point in the housing, and a tubular insert, which optionally is detachable, is arranged with a clearance to the internal wall of the housing at this point of intersection so as to separate the first connection from the second connection. However, if the connecting piece according to the in¬ vention should be used for serial connection of radiators, i.e. successive connection of the radiators having a common return pipe, liquid may flow in the housing between the first and the second connection. In case of serial connec¬ tion, use is preferably made of a throttle which is ar¬ ranged in or adjacent the first connection such that hot water entering the housing from a flow pipe is conducted partly to the inlet of the radiator on which the connecting piece is mounted, partly directly to one of the two outlet pipe sockets of the connecting piece. The remaining characteristic features, preferred em- bodiments and advantages of the connecting piece according to the invention are defined in the accompanying claims and described in the detailed specification of non-restrictive embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accom¬ panying drawings. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an inventive connecting piece intended for parallel connection of radiators. Fig. 2 is a section along line II-II of the connecting piece in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of the connecting piece in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 illustrates schematically how connecting pieces according to Figs 1-3 may be used for parallel connection of radiators. Fig. 5 illustrates schematically how connecting pieces according to Figs 1-3 may be used for parallel connection/ reconnection of radiators. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of an inventive connecting piece intended for serial connection of radiators. Fig. 7 illustrates schematically how connecting pieces according to Fig. 6 may be used for serial connection of radiators. Fig. 8 is a side view of the connecting piece accord¬ ing to Fig. 1, alternatively Fig. 6. Figs 1-3 show a connecting piece generally designated 1, designed for parallel connection of radiators. The con- necting piece 1 comprises a tubular housing which has a feed opening M and a return opening R intended to be con¬ nected to an inlet and an outlet, respectively, of the radiator when mounting the connecting piece. Moreover, the connecting piece 1 comprises on the one hand two bottom pipe sockets Bout. and Bi.n for external connection to pipes extending from below and, on the other hand, two side pipe sockets Sout. and Si.n for external connection to p c ipes ex- tending sideways. As shown in Figs 1-3, the centre lines of the four p ^ipe sockets Bout. ,' Bi.n,' Sout. ,' Si.n extend in one and the same plane which is parallel to a main surface of the radiator when the connecting piece 1 is mounted thereon. The side pip *e sockets Sout.'. and Si.n are in this em- bodiment directed perpendicular to the bottom pipe sockets Bou _t___, and Bi.n, and moreover the mutual distance A between the bottom pipe sockets equals the mutual distance B be¬ tween the side pipe sockets. The housing forms on the one hand a first connection between the feed opening M, the inlet pipe socket B. of the bottom pair and the inlet pipe socket Si.n of the side pair and, on the other hand, a second connection between the return opening R, the outlet pipe socket B , of the bottom pair and the outlet pipe socket S , of the side pair. In the embodiment according to Figs 1-3, these two connections are isolated from each other in a liquid-tight manner, thereby permitting the connecting piece 1 to be used for parallel connection of radiators. This liquid- tight isolation of the two connections is effected by means of a tubular insert 2 which is inserted in the housing through the inlet pipe socket B. of the bottom pair and arranged at a point where the two connections intersect at an angle of 90°. In the embodiment illustrated, the insert 2 is fixed with a force fit to the housing. As is best shown in Figs 2 and 3, there is a clearance between the tubular insert 2 and the inner wall 3 of the housing so as to form a passage 4 therebetween. The insert 2 may be removable from the housing. Alternatively, the isolating insert 2 may be formed as an integrated part of the housing during casting thereof. Thus, the internal duct of the insert 2 constitutes part of said first connection, whereas the spacing 4 between the outside of the insert 2 and the inner wall 3 of the housing constitutes part of said second connection. As is evident from Fig. 1, the first connection (for incoming hot water) comprises a first essentially recti¬ linear duct 5 which opens into the feed opening M and into the inlet pipe socket B. of the bottom pair and connects, at a branch point 6 between its ends, to the inlet pipe socket Sm. of the side pair, Said second connection (for return water) comprises a second essentially rectilinear duct 7 which intersects the first duct 5 at an essentially right angle and opens into the outlet pipe socket S . of the side pair and, via a pipe bend 8, into the outlet pipe socket B of the bottom pair. The second duct 7 connects to the return opening R at a branch point 9. In this embodiment, the return opening R has the shape of a duct 10, open at both ends, which is directed perpen¬ dicular to a plane common to the pipe sockets and is in liquid communication with said second duct 7 along a por¬ tion 11 of its circumference. It will be appreciated that the embodiment in Figs 1-3 may be modified by, inter alia, arranging the insert 2 in the second duct 7 for the return water, instead of in the first duct 5 for incoming hot water. Furthermore, the position of the return opening R on the housing may be different from the one in the embodiment illustrated. The return opening may, for example, be de- signed as a pipe socket whose centre line extends in the same plane as that of the remaining pipe sockets of the connecting piece. Such a return opening designed as a pipe socket could be directed e.g. upwards in Fig. 1 at a T- branch of the duct 7, or be directed to the left in Fig. 1 and constitute an extension of the duct 7. The connecting piece in Figs 1-3 thus is designed such that the inlet communicate with each other via the bypass pipe 2 extending through the return duct 7 which connects the outlet pipe sockets. Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which schematically illustrates two radiators 20, each provided with a con¬ necting piece 1 according to the embodiment in Figs 1-3. The connecting pieces 1 are fixedly mounted in the lower corner of each radiator 20 by a specially designed fasten- ing means 21 of per se known type which is inserted through the respective return opening R and screwed into a threaded return opening of the radiator. This fastening means is, however, designed such that the flow between the outlet opening of the radiator 20 and the duct 7 is not blocked. The feed openings of the connecting pieces 1 are via risers 22 connected to the inlet openings 23 of the radiators 20. The connecting piece 21 of the left radiator 20 is con¬ nected by • * means of its bottom p r i r pe sockets Bi.n and Bout. to pipes 24 and 25 extending from below and intended for hot water and return water, respectively. The left radiator 20 in Fig. 4 thus is connected at its bottom. The side pipe sockets S. and S . of the connecting piece 1 of the left radiator 21 are sealed with caps 26 which are screwed to these two side pipe sockets, while using seals. The right radiator 20 in Fig. 4 is connected on one side, and to this end the side pip c e sockets Si.n and Sou,t . of the connecting piece 1 are connected to sideways extending pipes 27 and 28 which via a T-branch connect to the pipes 24 and 25, respectively. The bottom pipe sockets B. and B of the connecting piece 1 of the right radiator 20 are sealed with a corresponding cap 26. Fig. 5 illustrates a particularly interesting con¬ necting principle which can be accomplished by means of the inventive connecting piece. Both radiators 20 in Fig. 5 are provided with a connecting piece 1 of the design described with reference to Figs 1-3. The left radiator 20 is, like in Fig. 4, connected at its bottom to pipes 24 and 25 ex¬ tending from below. In contrast to the arrangement in Fig. 4, the left radiator 20 in Fig. 5 is directly connected to the right radiator. This is achieved by using in the con¬ necting piece 1 of the left radiator 20 the bottom pipe sockets Bout. , Bi.n as well as the side pipe sockets Sout. , 5. . Horizontal pipes 29, 30 thus connect the respective side pipe sockets of the two connecting pieces. The bottom pipe sockets B , B. of the connecting piece 1 of the right radiator 20 are not used but sealed with caps 26. The arrangement shown in Fig. 5 is advantageous com¬ pared to the one in Fig. 4 since the T-branches of the pipes may be excluded. Reference is now made to Fig. 6 which is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 1, the connecting piece in Fig. 6 however being intended for serial connection of radia¬ tors. The connecting piece in Fig. 6 is essentially iden¬ tical with the connecting piece in Fig. 1. However, the insert 2 is missing and replaced by a throttle sleeve 40 arranged in the inlet duct 5 adjacent the feed opening M. This throttle sleeve 40 causes incoming hot water through e.g 3 . the side pipe socket Si.n to be distributed in desired proportions upwards to the radiator via the feed opening M, and downwards so as to flow directly to a subsequent radia¬ tor in the series via the duct 5, the duct 7 and the outlet pipe socket B of the bottom pair. If, like in Fig. 6, the inlet pipe socket Si.n of the side pair is used as an inlet pipe socket, the inlet pipe socket Bi.n of the bottom pair is sealed. Also the outlet pipe socket S . of the side pair is sealed with a cap 26. Of course, incoming hot water may instead be conducted through the inlet pipe socket B. of the bottom pair and, together with the return water of the radiator, be discharged through the outlet pipe socket S of the side pair. Fig. 7 shows schematically serial connection of two radiators 20, each provided with a connecting piece 1 ac¬ cording to the embodiment in Fig. 6. The mounting procedure of the connecting pieces on the radiators in Fig. 7 is the same as in Figs 4 and 5 and will therefore not be described once more. The left radiator 20 receives incoming hot water via a pipe 41 extending sideways, which is connected to the side inlet pipe socket S. of the connecting piece. This in¬ coming hot water is divided into a flow flowing via the left radiator 20 to the return opening R of the connecting piece, and a flow flowing directly to the bottom outlet p • ^ipe socket Bou t t to be mixed with the return water from the radiator. The bottom outlet pipe socket B . is, via a pipe 42, connected in series with the right radiator 20 in Fig. 7 which through its bottom inlet pipe socket B. receives hot water via the pipe 42. After passing through the right radiator 20, the return water is discharged through the bottom outlet pipe socket B . to a return pipe 43. The right radiator 20 in Fig. 7 thus is connected at its bottom and its two side pipe sockets Si.n,' Sout. are sealed with caps 26.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Connecting piece (1) adapted to be mounted on and connect a hot-water radiator (20), comprising: a tubular housing having on the one hand a feed opening (M) and a return opening (R) which are adapted to be connected to an inlet and an outlet, respectively, of said radiator (20) when mounting the connecting piece (1) and, on the other hand, a pair of mutually parallel pipe sockets for external connection, c h a r a c t e r i s ¬ e d in that said housing comprises a second pair of mutually parallel pipe sockets which are perpendicular to the first-mentioned pair such that said two pairs of pipe sockets, called bottom pair (B. , B ), and side pair (Si.n, Sout. ), allow bottom connection and side connection of said radiator (20), respectively, and that said housing forms on the one hand a first connection (5) between the feed opening (M), an inlet pipe socket (B. ) of said bottom pair and an inlet pipe socket (S. ) of said side pair and, on the other hand, a second connection (7) between the return opening (R), an outlet pipe socket (B . ) of said bottom pair and an outlet pipe socket (S ) of said side pair. 2. Connecting piece as claimed in claim 1 for two-pipe connection, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the first and the second connection (5, 7) are separated from each other. 3. Connecting piece as claimed in claim 2, c h a r - a c t e r i s e d in that said first and said second con¬ nection (5, 7) intersect at a point of intersection in said housing, and that a tubular insert (2) is arranged with a clearance to the housing inner wall (3) at said point of intersection, thereby separating said first and said second connection (5, 7) from each other. 4. Connecting piece as claimed in claim 3, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that said tubular insert (2) is re¬ movable from said housing, liquid communication being possible between said first and said second connection (5, 7) when the insert (2) is removed from the housing. 5. Connecting piece as claimed in claim 1, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that said first and said second con¬ nection (5, 7) are in liquid communication with each other. 6. Connecting piece as claimed in claim 5, c h a r - a c t e r i s e d by a throttle (40) which is arranged in or adjacent said first connection (5). 7. Connecting piece as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the centre lines of all pip v e sockets (Bi.n,' Bout . ,' Si.n,' Sou . t,_) of said bottom pair and said side pair extend essentially in one and the same plane which, when the connecting piece (1) is mounted on the radiator (20), is parallel with a main surface of said radiator (20). 8. Connecting piece as claimed in any one of the pre- ceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said first connection in the housing comprises a first essentially rectilinear duct (5) which opens into said feed opening (M) and into said bottom pipe socket (Bi.n) closest to said side p c ip r e sockets (Si.n', Sout. ) and connects, at a branch point (6) between its ends, to the side pipe socket (S. ) furthest away from said bottom pipe sockets (Bout. , Bi.n), and that said second pipe connection in said housing com¬ prises a second essentially rectilinear duct (7) which intersects said first duct (5) at an essentially right angle and opens into the side pipe socket (S . ) closest to said bottom pipe sockets (B , B. ) and, via a pipe bend (8) , into the bottom pipe socket (B ) furthest away from said side pipe sockets (Si.n, Sout. ), said second duct (7) connecting to said return opening (R) at a branch point (9) between its ends. 9. Connecting piece as claimed in claim 8, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that the branch point (9) at which the second duct (7) connects to the return opening (R) is positioned between the point at which said first and said second duct (5, 7) intersect and said bottom pipe socket (B ) furthest away from the side pipe sockets (S. , S out>- 10. Connecting piece as claimed in claim 8 or 9, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the return opening (R) of said housing has the shape of a duct (10) open at both ends, which is directed perpendicular to a plane common to the centre lines of said pipe sockets and which along a portion (11) of its circumference is in liquid communica¬ tion with said second duct (7). 11. Hot-water radiator (20) provided with a connecting piece (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

Inventors: AAKERBLOM LARS, AAKERBLOM, LARS
Applicants: THERMOPANEL AB
Application year: 1994
Main classification: F24H9
IPC codes: F16L41, F24H9